Chris Reitsma had a frustrating exit. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        MONTREAL — Reds rookie Chris Reitsma is Canadian, but he had not been to Montreal before this trip. He looked right at home Saturday night in beating the Montreal Expos 4-2 before a crowd of 6,852 at Olympic Stadium.

        Reitsma was one out away from a complete-game shutout when Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

        “That was a little frustrating,” Reitsma said. “... One out away.”

        But he'll take it.

        Reitsma, who grew up and lives in Calgary, Alberta, was making his first big-league appearance north of the border. He responded with his best start of the year. He allowed five hits, walked none and struck out four.

        “This is a long way from home,” he said. “But it was nice to hear the (Canadian) national anthem.”

        The victory was the first for Reitsma (6-13) as a starter since June 20. He has put together two good starts after going 0-6 with an 8.80 ERA in his six previous starts. Pitching coach Don Gullett tinkered with Reitsma's mechanics between the good streak and the bad one.

        “He felt it right away when we worked with him,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We smoothed him out. That gives him great command of the fastball.”

Wilton Guerrero slides in with a triple. | ZOOM |

        With the Reds in the developmental mode, that's very good news for 2002.

        “It bodes well,” Boone said. “I think he can win 12 to 15 games.”

        Wilton Guerrero and Adam Dunn provided the offense. Guerrero had three hits and scored two runs. Dunn had his first career three-hit game, including a two-run homer.

        Dunn's homer was his 10th of the year. It was a monster shot to right.

        “I knew it was gone the moment he hit it,” Expos pitcher Mike Thurman said. “I put my head down, then said, "This might be worth watching.'”

        Dunn entered the game with one hit in his previous 13 at-bats and four in his last 30 at-bats.

        Reitsma allowed a double in the second inning and singles in the third and fifth. Those were Montreal's only hits until Jose Vidro led off the ninth with a single. Two outs later, Cabrera homered to left.

        “I was going to let him go for the shutout,” Boone said. “But I wasn't going to let him come anywhere close to losing the game.”

        Danny Graves took over and gave up groundball singles to Mark Smith and Geoff Blum before getting the final out for his 22nd save.

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